The school board is scheduled to vote on whether to retain Sophic's contract at tonight's interim meeting — ahead of that meeting, several dozen people have signed a petition, asking the board to keep the contract.
The petition, sent to Board Chair Stephanie Kraybill and the board, addresses comments by board members that the recent creation of the Office of Equity and the Chief Officer of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity fill the need previously met by Sophic Solutions; the petition argues, "we believe it is imperative that not only the Office of Equity and the Chief Officer of Equity have the support and expertise of Sophic Solutions, but that their outside perspective is critical to the entire community’s efforts and directions on this journey that will continue well into the future."
The petition continues, in part:
It is the mission of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion board committee to “ensure New Hanover County Schools celebrates our diverse community through growing a sustainable environment that embraces inclusion, provides equitable opportunities, and affirms our humanity.”
Toward this end, Sophic Solutions’ work in New Hanover County Schools has encompassed supporting the identification of diverse stakeholders in our schools’ communities with a priority for convening groups with multiple political, racial, gender, community, and background characteristics. Sophic Solutions’ work in supporting our school district’s audit for equitable access, inclusive practices and policies, and diverse perspectives has been critical to our understanding and direction. Their work has led to re-aligning the structure of the EDI board committee, the employee Equity workgroup, and the broader community’s commitment to schools and a school system that are affirming of our collective humanity. While some in our community have been committed to this work for some years now, in many ways, the work just beginning.
As of Tuesday morning, the petition had garnered 40 signatures, including several members of NHCS' EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) committee: Caress Clegg (also an NHCS staff member), Tyler Shumate (an NHCS teacher at Alderman Elementary), Karen Clay Beatty, Kayce Smith, Lina Espinosa, Gayle Tabor, Kirsten Kainz, Keyona Williams, Shawn Lamb, and former EDI committee members Jennifer Turner and Sena Preziosi.
Below: The petition and the list of signatures — some including notes — as of Tuesday morning.
Community Petition Sophic Solutions by Ben Schachtman on Scribd